Radical Evil: A Philosophical Interrogation

At present, there is an enormous gulf between the visibility of
evil and the paucity of our intellectual resources for coming to
grips with it. We have been flooded with images of death camps,
terrorist attacks and horrendous human suffering. Yet when we ask
what we mean by radical evil and how we are to account for it, we
seem to be at a loss for proper responses.

Bernstein seeks to discover what we can learn about the meaning
of evil and human responsibility. He turns to philosophers such as
Kant, who coined the expression 'radical evil', as well as to Hegel
and Schelling. He also examines more recent explorations of evil,
namely the thinking of Freud and Nietzsche on the moral psychology
of evil. Finally, he looks at the way in which three post-Holocaust
thinkers – Emmanuel Levinas, Hans Jonas, and Hannah Arendt
– have sought to come to grips with evil "after
Auschwitz."

Bernstein's primary concern throughout this challenging book is
to enrich and deepen our understanding of evil in the contemporary
world, and to emphasize the vigilance and personal responsibility
required for combating it.

Radical Evil will be essential reading for students and
scholars of philosophy, social and political theory, and religious
studies.

"Richard Bernstein takes us through the most baffling question of
all, the one that in the end defies philosophical understanding,
that of evil. The last century put this irresistibly on our agenda,
and we cannot avoid it. No-one has the answer, but Bernstein takes
us through a number of the most important and insightful thinkers,
who can help us in our search. With the admirable clarity and great
philosophical sympathy which always characterizes his work, he
defines their understanding of evil, and puts them into
conversation with each other. One emerges from this work still
baffled, but in a much more fruitful way, empowered to go on
thinking. This is a striking achievement for a work on this
subject. Bernstein has once again pushed the debate forward several
steps."Charles Taylor, McGill University

"Richard Bernstein's work represents the best of an American
tradition in philosophy, inspired by pragmatism and the analytical
requirements of jargon-free clarity and drawing extensively and
powerfully on traditions within Continental philosophy. To my ears
Bernstein's is a hugely important voice in contemporary
philosophical debate – it is sane and humane."Simon Critchley, University of Essex

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